DECREE creating the Institute for Mexicans Abroad as a decentralized administrative agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the margin, the national seal, which says: United Mexican States – Office of the President.
VICENTE FOX QUESADA, Constitutional President of the United Mexican States, exercising the rights conferred upon me by article 89 part I of the Constitution of the United Mexican States and based on articles 17 and 28 of the Organic Law of the Federal Public Administration; and
CONSIDERING
That it corresponds to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide support and protection to the Mexicans abroad as part of its work of managing the foreign policy of the country;
That the 2001-2006 National Development Plan states that the promotion and defense of democracy and human rights are of special interest to the Mexican government as they offer instruments with which to defend the rights of Mexicans abroad;
That the plan also states that as it can be foreseen that there will be a growing demand for measures that contribute to the protection and social and economic development of the Mexican communities abroad, especially in the United States, it is indispensable to strengthen institutional capacity to guarantee that all Mexicans residing abroad receive support and attention of the highest quality from the Mexican government and its agencies;
That since 1990 the Foreign Ministry has operated the Mexican Communities Abroad Program, which promotes ties between these communities and Mexico as well as their development in areas such as health, education, sports, culture, economic development and community organization;
That from December 2000 to July 2002 the Office of the President formally operated a Representative Office for Mexicans Abroad and Mexican-Americans which directly linked the President with the Mexican communities abroad and enabled him to be aware of their most pressing needs;
That on August 8, 2002, the Official Federal Journal published the agreement creating the National Council for Mexican Communities Abroad as a permanent intersecretarial commission to make proposals that contribute to adopting policies and taking governmental actions designed to address the needs and demands of the Mexican communities abroad while at all times respecting the sovereignty and authority of their states of residence, and
That Mexico requires modern, effective strategies and administrative bodies with a greater capacity for interinstitutional coordination in order to adequately address the demands of the Mexicans and communities abroad and that decentralized administration contributes to achieving these goals without having an impact on the authorized budget, has decided to issue the following
DECREE
ARTICLE 1.- The Institute for Mexicans Abroad is created as a decentralized administrative entity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
ARTICLE 2.- The goal of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad will be to promote strategies, create programs, collect proposals and recommendations from the communities, its members, its organizations and advisory bodies that contribute to improving the living standards of the Mexican communities abroad, and to implement the instructions issued by the National Council for the Mexican Communities Abroad.
ARTICLE 3.- The Institute of Mexicans Abroad will have the following attributes:
I. To promote both a reevaluation of the migratory phenomenon and the dignified treatment of Mexicans who live abroad;
II. To encourage the creation of meeting places and promote communication with and among the Mexican communities abroad;
III. To act as liaison in coordination with Mexico’s diplomatic offices with the Mexican communities abroad;
IV. To establish adequate coordination with the state and municipal governments, institutions and organizations involved with assisting the Mexican communities abroad and with other related and complementary issues.
V. To design and promote mechanisms to implement programs and projects that pertain to the work of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad;
VI. To organize and participate in seminars, conferences, symposiums, colloquia and public, private and academic congresses related to migration and issues involving Mexicans abroad;
VII. To gather and systemize proposals and recommendations for improving the social development of the Mexican communities abroad submitted by advisory boards made up of representatives from these communities, and
VIII. To carry out the other functions that this decree and other legal instruments confer upon the Institute for Mexicans Abroad or the Foreign Ministry that are related to those set forth in the previous paragraphs as well as those functions given it by the Foreign Secretary.
ARTICLE 4.- The Director of the Institute will be named by the President of Mexico at the suggestion of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
ARTICLE 5.- The Director of the Institute will have the following functions. He will: I. Draw up the plans and programs of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad; II. Formulate the draft programs and budgets for the Institute for Mexicans Abroad in conformity with the applicable directives; III. Coordinate activities that benefit the Mexican communities abroad through the diplomatic and consular network of the Mexican government; IV. Coordinate and participate in the meetings of the advisory groups that are created; V. Implement the policies and directives defined by the President or the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; VI. Participate in the commissions and boards to which the Foreign Ministry is party in the area of expertise of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad; VII. Coordinate and promote institutional actions in those areas that contribute to strengthening and developing the communities abroad in coordination with the agencies of the federal executive branch of government; VIII. Promote and participate in coordinating with the governments, institutions and organizations of the states and municipalities and the private sector programs and actions that benefit migrants; IX. Participate in actions that benefit migrants in coordination with the public and private offices that assist Mexican migrants; X. Collaborate and participate in the various programs of the federal government that benefit the Mexican communities abroad; XI. Participate in federal programs and actions that are designed to obtain and provide information on issues of interest related to the communities abroad; XII. Formulate and propose public policies to the National Council for Mexican Communities Abroad based on the needs, opinions and concerns expressed by the Mexicans residing abroad, and XIII. Carry out any other functions that this decree and other legal instruments confer upon him or upon the Foreign Ministry that are related to those indicated in previous paragraphs or entrusted to him by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS
FIRST ARTICLE.- This decree will enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Federal Journal.
SECOND ARTICLE.- The structure and the human, financial and material resources of the Direction General of Mexican Communities Abroad and the State Liaison of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will become part of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad.
THIRD ARTICLE.- The issues currently being handled by the Direction General for Mexican Communities Abroad and by the State Liaison of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will now be handled by the Institute for Mexicans Abroad.
Issued in the residence of the Federal Executive in Mexico City, the Federal District, on the eleventh day of April of two thousand three.- Vicente Fox Quesada.- Signature.- The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Luis Ernesto Derbez Bautista.- Signature.
What is the IME? 
